Chris Knight talks honest songwriting, writing for country A-listers and more

Chris Knight has written songs for the likes of Blake Shelton, Montgomery Gentry, Randy Travis and others. But when it comes to his own songs, which have a more somber feel than those of his Nashville bretheren, he believes honesty is the best approach.

"There has to be a connection there for me," Knight said in a recent phone interview. "If it's not there, if I can't relate to it, I can't honestly sing it."

Knight will perform two shows Saturday at the 12th annual Riverhawk Music Festival in Hernando County. The festival begins at 5:40 p.m. Thursday and continues through Sunday at Sertoma Youth Ranch, southeast of Spring Lake on Myers Road, just north of the Hernando-Pasco line. General admission is $20-$50 depending on the day for adults, $15 for kids age 13-17, free for kids under 13.